"We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)" was released on the heels of Turner's multiplatinum album Private Dancer. The song's lyrical content is written from the perspective of those being oppressed and not wanting to get their hopes up in yet another "hero" who may or may not save them. The song was released in an extended, six minute-plus 12" version on the soundtrack album.

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The music video features Turner dressed in a heavy chain mail gown, more or less as Aunty Entity, the character she played in the movie. As several spotlights shine on her, she proceeds to sing atop a platform while various scenes from the movie are interspersed. In the last portion of the video, Turner's tour saxophonist, percussionist and keyboardist – Timmy Capello and a children's choir accompany her.

"We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)" became one of Tina Turner's biggest worldwide hit singles. The single peaked at #2 on the United States Billboard Hot 100, behind only "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" by John Parr, at #3 in the UK and reached #1 in Canada, Australia, Germany, Poland, Spain and Switzerland.

The Shadows did an instrumental version of the song on their 1987 album Simply Shadows.

Uruguayan musician, comedian and writer Leo Maslíah recorded a parody cover titled "No necesitamos otro héroe (Balderrama)" for his 1988 album I lique rock. In this version, he played the original melody of the song but replaced the lyrics completely, using instead the words to a popular zamba (an Argentine folk standard) called "Balderrama".